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Where to Refer Staff for Mental Health Support

If one of your staff members has shared that they may be struggling with their mental health it might be appropriate to suggest they access professional mental health support. You might consider:

1. Ask whether they have talked to a GP about how they are feeling.

GPs are trained to assist with mental health – just like physical health. A GP can also check for any physical health problems or medications that may be affecting a person’s mental health. A GP can also help the staff member access a Mental Health Treatment Plan – via which they can receive a Medicare rebate to help pay part of the cost of seeing a psychologist – if the GP assesses that the person may be experiencing a mental health condition.

2. If the staff member does not have a GP, you may want to offer to help them find a GP.

If the staff member doesn’t have a regular GP, you can help them find one on the Government’s Health Direct website (https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/australian-health-services). This website also has the option of searching for a GP who bulk bills – so the staff member won’t have to pay for the cost of the appointment. Alternatively, you could google Doctors in the local area who list “mental health” as one of their areas of interest in their profile.

3. You could recommend headspace.

If the person is under 25 years, they can also visit their local headspace service. You can find one here: https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/

4. In the meantime, provide the person with details for mental health support services.

In Australia there are free and confidential emotional support services available 24-hours a day, 365 days per week. Most services offer call, text, and chat options. For Lifeline Australia:

Call: 13 11 14
Text: 0447 13 11 15 or
Chat online here: https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat/

You can download a PDF of available supports here.

If you are concerned that the person may be at risk of harm to themselves – tell them you are worried about them, stay with them, and call Lifeline on 13 11 44 or Kids Helpline (if they are under 25) on 1800 55 1800 to seek further advice.
If it is an emergency, go to the local emergency department or call 000 immediately.

5. Maintain Contact

Encourage the staff member to also reach out to trusted loved ones for support during this time. Make sure to continue to monitor and check in with the person regarding how they are going.